Students protest Bush speaking at commencement

The Associated Press First lady Laura Bush
(middle) talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito
(right)

By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff

Despite being 3,000 miles away, Laura Bush fueled debate between
administrators and students who objected to the possibility of
having the first lady speak at this year’s commencement
ceremony.

Students in the Graduate School of Education & Information
Studies met with Dean Aimee Dorr on Friday to demand that she
rescind the invitation to Bush.

Critics cited Bush’s “shallow credentials” and
complained they were not allowed to participate in the selection of
their commencement speaker.

“We’re disappointed that the selection for a student
event had no student input,” said Estela Zarate, a doctoral
student in education.

The dean is usually the one who formally invites commencement
speakers. In this case, Chancellor Albert Carnesale sent the
invitation because it is general practice for the chancellor to do
so when the university contacts the heads of state.

Carnesale, who sent off the invitation in early February under
the recommendation of the school, said Tuesday that “it is
extremely unlikely” he would rescind the invitation.

“She seems to me to be an entirely appropriate
speaker,” Carnesale said of Bush, a former teacher, librarian
and current education advocate.

“Having had a career in education and information studies,
she’s been dedicated to those areas, as has been demonstrated
by her actions,” he added.

Dorr said she selected five candidates to speak ““ of which
Bush is ranked first ““ based on discussions with the
school’s faculty executive committee, which is comprised of
department leaders and two student representatives. The committee
serves an advisory function to the dean.

The other four candidates were not disclosed.

“I’m really sorry there is this much
agitation,” Dorr said Friday, promising to increase student
involvement in future selections.

Many students warned Dorr of the political implications of
inviting Bush to speak at the commencement.

“She was selected for her political celebrity,” said
Tara Watford, a doctoral student in education.

“The commencement speaker should speak to us based on
achievements in the field,” she said. “(Bush) has no
merit.”

Watford then read a quote in which Bush allegedly admitted to
becoming a librarian to expand her dating circle.

Bush’s advocacy for early literacy and her efforts to
combine education and librarianship make her a suitable candidate
to speak at commencement, Dorr said. She also said having Bush
speak would help the department become more well known.

“It’s a way to have students and the school more
visible,” Dorr said.

Students don’t necessarily have to agree with the
political views of the commencement speaker, Dorr said.

“Campus has to be a place where people of different views
can speak,” she said. “The ceremony involves a lot of
people and has to work for a lot of people.”

Whenever the university invites a speaker in a political
position, some students are bound to disagree, Carnesale said.

“That is not a reason to exclude somebody from
speaking,” he said.

But, some say, a commencement is not the right forum for Bush to
speak, since she will get the last word.

Having Bush speak at the department’s commencement would
also incur extra costs.

According to John Bollard, director of student services for
GSE&IS, preliminary figures he received from the Secret Service
indicated an additional $55,000 would need to be spent on top of
normal commencement expenses. The extra cost would pay for
increased security and a press room.

Though Bush has been invited to speak, it is not definite she
will accept.

“We all see it as a long shot,” Dorr said.

After the meeting, Zarate said she hopes students in the
department will protest the invitation and the appearance should
Bush accept.

“We will not stand by and allow her presence to go
uncontested,” Zarate said.

With reports from Linh Tat, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.